GPA: How To Calculate Grade Point Average and Why You Should Know It

As the school selection process is coming up, PNG Insight wants to make sure Grade 12 students understand how to calculate their GPAs. Grades are given on a scale of 0.0 (FAIL) to 4.0 (A), and your GPA is calculated by dividing the total points earned by the total credit hours accumulated.

GPA calculations may sound tricky, but they're easy if you have your transcript handy. We suggest using online GPA calculators or directly applying the GPA formula in an Excel spreadsheet to ensure accuracy.

Three stand-out reasons why you should know your GPA

if you are looking for a job, it is useful to know your GPA;
or if you are applying for a scholarship, many overseas institutions will ask for your GPA;
or as a new student or continuing student, you should be mindful to stay above a GPA of 2.0, in some cases 2.25 - these are magic numbers! Fall below and you are out, or your parent self-sponsor you.

GPA for HECAS

To be eligible for a Higher Education Contribution Assistant Scheme (HECAS), the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) recommends that you score a minimum of 2.0 or higher. UNITECH has raised this to 2.25.

That means that universities are not places for students scoring a GPA below 2. Questions should be asked as to how they got their foot in if they had.

If you are an academically bright student, you could qualify for the government's rewarding scheme called the Academic Excellence Scholarship Scheme (AES) with a GPA of 3.6 for first-year students. That means that any grade 12 student with straight As is a candidate for AES) or 3.7 for second to final years.

If you need assistance, talk to your institution's student service division.

PNG Unis GPA Info

An updated version of this post discusses the following GPA topics in detail:

Calculate Grade 12 GPA
GPA for PNG Universities Selection
Why you should know the University GPA
GPA Uni Entry, Scholarship or Work
TESAS Info for Students
Grade 12 Guide to TESAS
How to apply for TESAS Non-school Leavers
Apply for TESAS after admission

Click here for more information.

About PNG Insight

PNG Insight is an education blog. It aims to highlight the key developments in the education sector in Papua New Guinea. Started in 2014 on Google's blogger (now self-hosted on WordPress), PNG Insight strives to be a platform for critical thinking and discussions; and a source of information.

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